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 At midnight,  when  you are enjoying  sweet  repose, the monks  arise  and  sing the praises  of  the Almighty, Happy,  indeed, the  people  who  have such a  Religious  community in  their  midst! Only the  angels  of  God know what  blessings  these prayers — this life  of  fasting— bring  upon  a  land. For the  monks  pray  not only for  themselves  but for all  the  people. Many a sinner  struggling  with temptation is  given  the victory because  the  monks are praying  for  him;  many a heart  that  is  pressed down with  the  burden of life  is  made  gladsome because the  prayers  of the  monks  have  won graces for  the  soul;  many an unfaithful  child  of the  Church  has  been  won back to  repentance  because the  prayers  of  the monks have  ascended  like incense to  heaven  and have merited  the  grace that wins  salvation. May their presence  amidst  the hills of  Nelson  County be abiding;  and  for  ages to come  may  the  Midnight Office  go  up  like incense to  God  for  the salvation of  His  people."

In an  excellent  book of Meditations  on  the  Hidden Life,  entitled:  44  The Heart of  Jesus  of  Nazareth," we  read:  44  It  entered into  Hie  designs  of our  blessed  Lord  that His  hidden  life  should be  perpetuated,  not  only in  His  own  divine  Person upon  the  altar,  but  also by  a  portion  of  the  members forming  His  mystic body — the  Church.

"It is  well  known  that the  utility  of  those  Religious Orders  which  are not  devoted  to  active works  of  charity  is  a point  much  contested, even  by  good,  practical Catholics.  Any  doubt, however,  as  to  their  utility ought  to  be  removed from  the  minds  of  those who  have  at  any  time made  the  life  of  Our  Lord at  Nazareth  the  subject of  meditation.  It  will  be necessary  but  to  keep  in mind  that  the  period passed  at  Nazareth  was not  simply  a  time  of waiting  and  delay  until the  hour  had  arrived  for commencing  the  actual work  of  Our  Lord's  life. The  truth  is  that  Our